Shoe-polishing machine



Sepiy, 1924;" 1,508,262

G. T. TRUNQLE, JR

SHOE POLI SHING MACHINE Filed April 15A v1921 2 sheets-snee; 1

*7 @5 4 @-5 amada .Mau/fw,

G. T. TRUNDLE, JR

SHOE POLISHING MACHINE Sept. 9 1924. 1,508,202

Filed April 1s, 1921 2 sheets-sheer 2 ABA) Patented Sept. 9, i924.;

NTE STATES F attesta voFrica.l

GEORGE T. TRUNDLE, JR., Oli CILEVELANID OHTO, ASSIGNOR, BY. MESNE ASSIGNMENTS,

T0' THE AUTOMATIC ELECTRC Sli-10E POLISHING MACHINE COMPANY., OE BRYAN,

TEXAS, A CORPORATION TEXAS.

snon-rotrsniuo MACHINE.

Application led April 13 To `all whom. 2f may concern Be it known that l, GEORGE T. TRUNDLE, Jr., a citizen of the United States, residing at Cleveland7 in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Shoe-- Polishing Machines, of which the following is a iull, clear, and. exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings..

rllhis invention relates to shoe polishing machines and is primarily concerned with the construction of a semi-automatic machine, wherein a power driven rotary brush is mounted'so as to be moved universally by an operato-r, shoes.

The usual practice in semifautomatic shoe polishing. machines is to construct avpolishingmechanism, which maybe employed by that the driving mechanismv be. located below theA brush to prevent its interfering with the clothing of the. customer.

@ne of' the` objects of my invention therefore, is the provision ot' a `polishing` machine wherein the brush is universally movable and is driven from below by comparatively light, readily shittable mechanism,

Another object is the provision of a machine. which may be employed in connection withy existing shoe polishing stands, or'which i may be installed therein without requiring expensive alterations.

Further. yfeatures include theprovision of a machine: which may bek operated either by an individual motor, or by connection with aline shaft fromv which a number of brushes ma be operated;

lili accomplishing the above objects provide; a rota-ry brush which is normally positioned adjacent the shoe rests of a shoe for cleaning and polishing` Accordingly, it'

Serial No. 460,965.

polishing stand, and which is adaptedy tobe:

supported and driven by a mechanism beneath the stand. The particular arrange-v ment oi'y the mechanism for securinguniveisal. movement of the brush, will. be here ina'iter set tortliy in the following descrip- N tion which relates to the drawings, and;V the essential characteristics of my invention-wilh be set forth in the claims. 1

In the drawings, Fig. l is a longitudinaly section through a shoe polishing machine, embodying the features of my invention.

.Figa 2 is a transverse section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1'. Fig. Sis an end.. elevation taken from the4 front of. the shoepolishing stand. Figs. 4 and 5A are figures showing enlarged side and endfviews ofthe-v hrush operating mechanism..

My invention contemplates in` generaltheconstruction of a shoe polishing machine which is adapted :tor use in connection with existing stands, andi which is employed! for. polishing shoesafter an operator` hasap-` vplied paste thereto. .The-1 mechanism which l prefer to employ for securing universaly movement of the brush is shown: and vdescribed in connection with a single. sta-nd,y but it is to..be understood'Y that suchmeclim nism is operable when used? in connection with a .series ot stands which.. are arranged in a row, and which may be operablejiirom a single line shaft.

Referring now tothe drawings and desi'g nating the parts shown therein/by: theuse of reference characters', 10 represents? the base of a shoe shining stand having walls'l 11, for supporting a' chair platform `12' and' a foot platform 13, respectively. The stand? may be constructed/'in accordance withv the customary methods but the bracing' means` must be such esto permit the freedomof kmovement of the mechanism which will. be

hereinafter described.

To operate'the polishing brushl, l may provide a motor 16 which is-rigidly-sup ported on the base and onz'the"interiorA po=rtion of the stand. This motor is shown ass: having the axis'l? thereof positioned. oh#- liquely to the rontof thev stand and asz carryingl a driving pulley I8`l` on oneend of the armature'shaft.

Above the kmotor andirigidly mounted. on. the stand, l` provide a bracket 19 on which an idler wheel 2O is supported as at 21. Pivotally mounted on this bracket, as at 22 and 25, l also provide a pair of arms 23 and 24 respectively, which arms are in vertical alignment and constitute part of a four-bar linkage system, the purpose of which will be hereinafter set forth. The ends of the arms 23 and 24 may terminate in inclined brackets 26 and 27 respectively, and support guide pulleys 29 and 30.

The outermost ends of the arms 23 and 24 are arranged to carry on horizontal pivots brackets 31 and 32 which are shown as extending outwardly toward the front of the stand and as comprising support-ing ment bers for a. vertical shaft 33. Mounted on the shaft 33, l provide a driven pulley 34 which is rotatably connected with a pulley The pulley 34 is rotated by the belt 36 which passes around the driving pulley 13 over the guide pulley 30, around the driven pulley 34, back and under the guide wheel 29, over the idler wheel 20 and thence back to the driving wheel 13.

The four-bar linkage system comprises as above set forth, the arms 23 and 24, bracket 19 and the shaft 33. rlliis linkage system provides for vertical movement of the shaft 33 about the pivotal points 22 and 25 and enables such movement to occur, while the shaft 33 remains in a. vertical position at all times. The downward movement due to gravity may be counter-acted by a tension spring 37 while complete movement in either direction may be limited by the up per and lower stops 33, 39 en the retaining bar 40. Any movement by the founbar linkage system enables the belt 36 to operate continuously, by reason of the fact that the centers of the guide pulleys 29 land 30 are equidistant at all times.

Pivotally mounted on the shaft 33, and preferably intermediate the brackets 31 and 32, I provide an arm 41 which may be in the form of a frame, that carries a shaft 42 and acts as a cantilever in supporting the brush 15. To transmit motion from the shaft to the shaft 42, l provide a beltl 43 which connects the pulley wheel 35 with the wheel 44. This Wheel is rigidly connected with the shaft 42 and is therefore operative irrespective of the position of the arm 41 relative to the shaft The ends of the arm 41 preferably terminate in a forked member having the projecting portions 45 and 46 which constitute the bearings for the shaft 42.

Extending outwardly from the arm 41, and pivotally mounted on the shaft 42, ll provide a brush carrying arm 47, which may also be constructed in the form of a rectangular frame, and in a manner similar to the construction of the arm 41. rlhe end of the frame 47, which is mounted on the shaft 42, may comprise a bifurcated member having the portions 43 and 49 embracing the shaft 42 and positioned intermediate the bearing portions 45 and 46 on the arm 4l. rhe brush carrying frame supports a retary shaft which shaft may receive rotation through the bevel gears 51 and 52 respectively.

Referring now to Fig. 4, it will be seen that the extreme outer end of the shaft 50 terminates in a bevel gear 53, while the end of the frame 47 acts as a supporting means for the brush holder 54. This brush holder Lmay be rotatably mounted within the end of the frame 47 by means of a flange 55, which extends into a recess in the end of the frame, and is held thereagainst by a split ring 56. A shaft 57, to which the brush is rigidly secured, is rotatably supported by the holder and is ada ated to be rotated by means of a. gear 53 which meshes with the gear rPhe construction of the brush holder enables the brush to be rotated on its own axis and at the same time to be re volved about the axis of the shaft 50. To prevent the weight of the holder from revolving the brush however, l provide a spring pressed plunger 59 which is adapted to engage suitable recesses 60, in the flange 55, and to retain the brush holder in any selective position.

To enable an operator to manipulate the brush 15, l provide a handle 61, on the brush holder, which handle is conveniently positioned so as to permit the brush to be reciprocated or revolved while it is being rotated. rilhe center of the handle is preferably on a line with the axis of the shaft 50, so` that the brush may be readily revolved about the axis of the shaft, without placing a` strain upon the wrist of the operator. Reciprocating and oscillating movement of the brush may be obtained by buckling the arms 41 and 47 about the shaft 42, as shown in Fig. 2, while vertical movement thereof may be obtained by raising or lowering the entire mechanism about the pivot points 22 and 25 respectively. The amount of vertical movement thus obtained, is governed by the distance between the stops 33 and 39. Additional movement may be obtained, however, by revolving the brush about the axis of the shaft 50; this additional movement being sufficient to bring the brush into contact withl all parts of the shoe. While l have shown the brush in a position intermediate the foot rests 62, it is obvious that the supporting arms may be buckled inwardly, and the brush swung around the back of the fcot rests to bring it into contact with the outer side of each shoe.

The operation of my machine is as followsz--Assuming that a customer is seated in the chair 63, and that the operator has applied paste to the shoes, then a switchM not shownV-is closed and the motor 16 iai therebyr set ini operation... Immediatelyy the; brush l5 is rotated, such rotation being;

transmitted through the belts'; and-,43nespeot'ively, andY thence through thel beveled` gearing on the sha-f-tslQ, 50 and* 57 respect-- tively. During' the paste applying; operas tion, the frames 4ta-ndL 47 are-buckled: in-

Wardly, and? the` brush; l!5- is pushed back- Wardly, sothatthe operator is allowedv freedom ofk movement for. applyingpaste-fto thei- After the brluslif is-vset in-` rotation,howeve1i,4 then the operator seizes` the handle 6l and. pulls the brushl forwardly,

customers shoes.

and reciproeates itv by pivotingv the fiames 4lvr and, 47- about the shafts 38 and- @respectively. To obtain vertical movement, the brush l5 isf raised-,orloxvered-,either by pivoting'` the entire mechanism; about the points 22 and 25, or revolving the-brushf` about the' axis ofthe shaft 50. The con.-

the current disconnected1 whereby fthe mechanism is 1n readmess.- for au succeeding.;- customer.y

VFrom the foregoing description.. it. vv-illbe seen that I have provided. a semifautomatic shoe polishing machine,` which provides for universal movement of apolishingl brush,

" While the brush-isv rotating. ata speed suflicient for producing-a satisfactory polish. This construction enables the entire. polish:f ingk operation to-b'e effected wit-hout. causing undue strain upon the arm of the opelaltorf and vvithout endangering either' himself or the person Whose shoes are being cleaned. Furthermore, it Will be seen 'that I have avoided any shafts or other mechanism coming to the brush from above and have provided a mechanism which is capable of being installed in existing stands. nisms` comparatively simple in construction, and is adapted for use in installations embodying one or more stands.

Having thus described my invention, I claim l. A shoe polishing machine having in combination a foot rest, a brush, means for rotating the brush, and means including a v linkage system and a brush holder rotatably mounted thereon for supporting said brush independently ofthe foot rest and from below the horizontal plane through said rest and in such a manner that the brush may be universally moved by the operator, and a handle connected to said support in the vicinity of the brush.

2. A shoe polishing machine having in combination a stand, a brush, means for rotating the brush, mechanism for support- My mechaingg-the brusln inf various, dperative positions.:

With.- neferenoe to; the .sta-nd* Whilef allowing? it; ar universal movementn and? a1 handle; fonthe brush: on the?v opposite side thereof; from;v the support,therefor.`

3. A shoe` polishing; machine having; im combination astand, shoe supports, ai brushg., means including a rotatable shiftably `car-- Died holder forfysupporting the: brush` ybeneatlr the'l stand,, whereby,` universal move`- ment of the: brush4 mayr be obtainedy'and'fl meansv for rotatingl thefbrush, said: last mem, tioned; means` being; positionedi belbvv thea. shoey supports,r both thef brushl support and, the driving` means/forthe brush being:` mounted independently' ofr the shoev supports.- '1 r 4 3.- IfnA an shoe' polishing machine the; comi'- bination. with a stand",l of 'apair of .shoe supports, a brush positioned beneath the' stand and arranged for'v universal; movement Wit-h. rela-tion-- to. they supports, a sourceaoft powerfory rotating; the l' brush. the sou-roeil ofi poivrer be'ingfposjitioned Within thef Stand,y and an operatons handle-z connected Withfthe;v brush on. the; side, thereoff opposite the. support,therefor;

5L In.y combin'ation'fv a# brush, means f" .rf rotating thev brush, means: including a; fourbar. linkage-system: for' supporting the` brushk and for permitting movement. thereoff in one plane and means-,- carried by theV fours* ba-r; linkage. for permitting movement` oi?y the br-'ushin: another.' pla-nez;

6.. Inzcojmbination, a brush, means; for-ro;- tating the brush, means;l for providingy universa'l.l movement- :fz'tl,1 e4 brush', said latten means comprising a' four-bar@ linkage sys.- terni and arms pivotally" oom-tested' Withv said:

mast v J 7. In combination, a brush, means for rotating the brush, means for enabling said brush to be moved in a vertical plane, means for enabling said brush to be swung in a horizontal plane, and means for enabling the brush to be bodily revolved in substantially the plane of its axis of rotation.

8. A shoe polishing machine having in combination, a brush, a revoluble brushho-lding member, and a spring detent as-k sociated With said member for selectively retaining the brush in various positions of revolution.

9. A shoe polishing machine having iny combination a stand, a brush, means for rotating the brush, means 4'extending out- Wardly from the stand and adapted to carry the brush, said last mentioned means being arranged to permit the brush to be revolved about an axis' at right angles to the axis of rotation, and means for selectively retaining the brush in various positions of revolution. y l

l0. In combination, a stand, extensible arms `carried by the stand, a drive shaft one of said members to another of said members, and a drive shaft, means for permitting the brush to be revolved about the 'axis of said drive shaft, and yielding means for normally retaining the brush in one position.

12. in a shoe polishing' machine, the combination with a stand, of a brush, extensible supporting means pivoted to the stand and extending outwardly therefrom, said means comprising av four-bar linkage system, an arm pivoted thereto, a brush carrying frame pivoted to said arm, a drive shaft carried by said frame, a brush holding bracket adapted to be revolved about the axis of said shaft, and means for rotating the brush.

13. A shoe polishing machine having in combination a brush, a motor for rotating the brush, extensible means adapted to support the brush, said means comprising a linkage system and a plurality of pivoted arms carried thereby, means for transmitting motion from the motor to the brush, said last mentioned means including a pair of guide pulleys mounted on the movable vmembers on said linkage system, a driven pulley, and a belt connecting the motor with said pulleys.

14. A shoe polishing machine having in combination a stand, a brush, a motor, a pulley thereon, a bracket carried by the stand, means including a four-bar linkage system, pivoted members carried thereby, and a brush rotatably carried by said members for lpermitting universal movement of the brush, an idler wheel carried by the bracket, guide wheels and a driven wheel associated with the four-bar linkage system and a belt connecting said wheels.

15. In a shoe polishing machine, the combination of a foolt rest, a brush, extensible supporting means for the brush, comprising a linkage system, an arm pivoted thereto, a brush carrying frame pivoted to said arm, a drive shaft carried by said frame, a brush holding bracket having a handle thereon adapted to be revolved about the axis of said shaft, and bevel gearing between the shaft and the brush.

16. 1n a device of the class described, the combination of a brush, a shaft therefor extensible supporting means for the shaft and brush, said means comprising a linkage system for permitting the movement of the brush in avert-ical plane, an arm pivoted to said system on a vertical pivot, a second arm pivoted to the first arm on a vertical pivot, a bracket swiveled to the second arm on a horizontal axis, a shaft journalecl in` the second arm, bevel gearing connecting the two shafts, and means for driving the shaft in the arm irrespective of its vertical position.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto affix my signature;

GEORGE T. TRUNDLE, JR. 

